Viral vector coding for a glycoprotein of the virus responsible for A.I.D.S.

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a viral vector. The genome of the viral vector comprises a functional origin of replication of a poxvirus, a DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160, a DNA fragment encoding a signal peptide, and a promoter for expressing DNA fragments in mammalian cells.

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/442,995 filed May 17, 1995, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,672,689 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/856,572,filed Mar. 24, 1992, now abandoned which is a divisional of Ser. No.07/765,413, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,763 filed Sep. 24, 1991, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 07/143,079, filed Dec. 4, 1987 now abandoned.

The present invention relates more especially to a vaccine designed forthe prevention of AIDS.

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a viral conditionwhich is now of major importance in North America, Europe and CentralAfrica.

Recent estimates suggest that approximately 1 million Americans may havebeen exposed to the AIDS virus. The affected individuals show severeimmunosuppression and the disease is generally fatal.

The disease is most commonly transmitted by sexual contact, althoughpeople using narcotics intravenously also represent a high-risk group;on the other hand, a large number of individuals have been infected withthis virus after receiving contaminated blood or blood products.

The causal agent of this condition is a retrovirus. Many animalconditions have been attributed to retroviruses, but it is only recentlythat it has been possible to describe retroviruses affecting man.

Whereas human T cell retroviruses (HTLV: human T leukemia virus) oftypes I and II have been implicated as the causal agent of certain Tcell leukemias in adults, the retrovirus associated withlymphadenopathies (LAV virus), which is also known as HTLV III orAIDS-related virus (ARV), is now generally accepted as the agentresponsible for AIDS.

The genome of the LAV retrovirus has been characterized very completely(Wain-Hobson et al., 1985; Ratner et al., 1985; Muesing et al., 1985;Sanchez Pescador et al., 1985), and data on the sequence indicate a veryclose relationship with the lentivirus group. Lentiviruses, theprototype of which is ovine Visna virus, are slowly progressing diseaseagents which typically show a prolonged incubation period. LAV and Visnavirus share many similarities, especially in their tropism for nervetissue.

As with other well known retroviruses, the three most important parts ofthe LAV genome have been designated gag, pol and env. The sequence ofthe env gene, including the sequence of the gp110 and of the gp41,exhibits characteristics which were expected of a transmembrane envelopeglycoprotein, and the identity of the env protein precursor, gp160,consisting of the gp110 and the gp41, has been confirmed by direct aminoacid sequencing.

Antibodies produced against the env protein gp160 and its cleavageproducts gp120 and gp41 are commonly detected in the serum of patientswho have AIDS, and the env glycoprotein represents the major surfaceantigen of the AIDS virus.

The env protein is thus the most promising candidate for developing avaccination strategy, and for this reason attention has beenconcentrated on this protein and on its coding sequence.

A large number of groups have reported the expression of the env proteinin bacteria. However, the absence of glycosylation andpost-translational structuring can impair the immunogenic power of thematerials synthesized by such microorganisms.

For this reason, the present invention proposes using a viral vector asexpression vector for the env protein, this viral vector enabling theprotein to be expressed in an environment which will permit itsglycosylation and its post-translational restructuring.

Thus, the present invention relates to a viral vector which contains allor part of the env gene of the virus responsible for AIDS.

Among the viral vectors which are usable, poxviruses should be mentionedmore especially, and vaccinia virus (VV) in particular.

Vaccinia virus is a double-stranded DNA virus which has been very widelyused throughout the world to control and eradicate smallpox. Recenttechnical developments have enabled this virus to be developed as acloning vector, and live recombinant viruses have enabled foreignantigens to be expressed and have even enabled immunizations againstdifferent viral or parasitic diseases to be obtained.

Thus, several groups have recently demonstrated the use of recombinantsof this type to express the influenza antigen, the hepatitis B antigenand the rabies glycoprotein, for immunization against these diseases(Smith et al., 1983; Panicali et al., 1983; Kieny et al., 1984).

The expression of a coding sequence for a foreign protein by vacciniavirus (VV) necessarily involves two stages:

1) the coding sequence must be aligned with a VV promoter and beinserted in a nonessential segment of the VV DNA, cloned into a suitablebacterial plasmid;

2) the VV DNA sequences situated on either side of the coding sequencemust permit homologous recombinations in vivo between the plasmid andthe viral genome; a double reciprocal recombination Leads to a transferof the DNA insert from the plasmid to the viral genome in which it ispropagated and expressed (Panicali and Paoletti, 1982; Mackett et al.,1982; Smith et al., 1983; Panicali et al., 1983).

Naturally, the use of this type of vector frequently involves a partialdeletion of the genome of the vector virus.

The present invention relates more especially to a viral vector whichcontains at least:

a part of the genome of a vector virus,

a gene coding for one of the glycoproteins (gp) of the envelope of thevirus responsible for AIDS, and also

the elements which provide for the expression of this glycoprotein incells.

The invention also relates to the recombinant DNAs corresponding to thesaid viral vectors.

It is appropriate to point out that 3 glycoproteins (gp) may be countedin the envelope of the virus responsible for AIDS, designated by theirmass in kD, namely the gp160, the gp120 and the gp41; the first, gp160,is, in fact, the precursor of the latter two proteins. Thesedesignations are not yet firmly established, and the gp41 is sometimesreferred to as gp40 or gp42, but these 3 glycoproteins are completelyidentifiable as a result of the differences in mass, regardless of theirdesignation.

Virus responsible for AIDS is understood, in particular, to designatethe LAV virus, the HTLV III virus or ARV, and likewise possible pointmutants or partial deletions of these viruses, as well as the relatedviruses.

In the part corresponding to the genome of the vector virus (as distinctfrom the virus responsible for AIDS), the viral vectors can be formedfrom the genome of a virus of any origin. However, it is preferable touse a part of the genome of a poxvirus, and more especially a part ofthe genome of vaccinia.

The conditions necessary for the expression of a heterologous protein inthe vaccinia virus have been recorded above.

In general, to be capable of being expressed, the gene in question, forexample the env gene, will have to be under the dependence of a promoterof a vaccinia gene; this promoter will generally be the 7.5 K proteinpromoter of vaccinia. In addition, the coding sequence will have to becloned into a nonessential gene of vaccinia, which may possibly serve asa marker gene. In most cases, this will be the TK gene.

Among the glycoproteins of the envelope whose expression it is desiredto achieve, the three proteins referred to above, namely the gp160, thegp41 and the gp-120, should be mentioned.

In general, it will be preferable to achieve expression of the completeenvelope gene, that is to say the env gene incorporating the signalsequence and the transmembrane sequence of this gene.

As a result of the first tests performed with a viral vector in whichthe gene coding for the total env protein was cloned, modifications ofthis gene were proposed in order to improve the immunogenicity of theexpression products.

A considerable release of the env protein into the culture supernatantswas observed (which release probably occurs in vivo, into thecirculating fluids). This may be due to a poor attachment of the proteinin the cell membrane; it is known, in addition, that the presentation ofthe antigens at the cell surface is very important for the induction ofan immune response with the vaccinia system. It is hence proposed tomodify the env gene so as to improve the anchoring of the glycoproteinin the cell membrane.

To this end, the env gene may be modified at its portion which codes forthe transmembrane region, so as to replace the codon corresponding to anarginine by a codon corresponding to an isoleucine.

There is also a possibility of improving the anchoring by replacingand/or adding the transmembrane region of a heterologous virus, forexample the transmembrane region of the gp of rabies virus, to thetransmembrane region of the env protein.

Furthermore, there is the possibility that the protein is notsatisfactorily assembled following its expression. In effect, the signalpeptide is fairly atypical, and might impair the complete exportation ofthe protein. For this reason, it is proposed to replace and/or add asignal sequence which originates from a heterologous virus, for examplethe signal sequence of the gp of rabies virus.

Finally, the gp120, rather than the gp160, appears to be the specieswhich is released by the cells. It may, on the one hand, provide a decoyfor the immune system, and on the other hand, in keeping with recentdata, become bound to the T4 cells, which might have the effect ofinactivating the T4 cells or of making them appear foreign to the otherT cells.

It may hence be advantageous to obtain a gp120 env protein which cannotbe released. This is accomplished by modifying the env gene between thesequences coding for the gp120 and for the gp41, so as to eliminate thesite for cleavage by proteases situated between the gp120 and the gp41,in particular by elimination of the REKR site.

In the plasmids according to the invention, at least one additionalmutation is performed in a site corresponding to a KRR sequence situated8 amino acids downstream from the REKR sequence. The gp160 therebyobtained is no longer cleaved.

The vectors according to the present invention also contain a sequencecoding for the gp41 which is devoid of the sequence corresponding to itshydrophobic N-terminal peptide, which it is thought might be responsiblefor the syncitial power of the env protein, that is to say the capacityof the virus to cause cell fusion and to produce a giant cell orsyncitium.

Finally, the present invention relates to viral vectors in which theextracytoplasmic and intracytoplasmic regions of the gp160 are fused inphase after deletion of the C-terminal hydrophobic peptide, therebyenabling secretion of the glycoprotein to be obtained.

In general, the viral vectors according to the invention contain asequence coding for one of the following proteins: ##STR1## S is signalpeptide, gp120 is the glycoprotein 120,

J denotes schematically the junction portion between the gp120 and thegp40 which is devoid of a site for cleavage by proteases,

gp40 is the glycoprotein 40,

tm is a transmembrane peptide or alternatively for a protein ofstructure:

--S--gp40--tm or

--S--gp120--tm

The signal peptide and the transmembrane sequence can be those of thevirus responsible for AIDS or can be heterologous, in particular canoriginate from the rabies virus or VSV or any virus having an envelope.

The gp40 can optionally be devoid of its hydrophobic N-terminal end.

The first (sic) invention relates mainly to the use of viral vectors forobtaining the glycoproteins encoded by the env gene of LAV virus in cellcultures. The cells in question are hence initially mammalian cellswhich have been infected by a viral vector according to the invention,or alternatively which may contain the corresponding recombinant DNA;among these cells, there should be mentioned, more especially, humandiploid cells, from primary cultures as well as Vero cells. It isnaturally possible to provide for other types of cells, as will emerge,moreover, from the examples below.

The glycoproteins thereby obtained can be used after purification forthe production of vaccines.

It is also possible to provide for the direct use of the viral vectorsaccording to the invention in order to perform a vaccination, theglycoproteins then being produced in situ and in vivo.

It is advantageous to provide for the combined use of severalvaccinating agents, administered jointly or separately, especially thevaccinating agents corresponding to the vectors which separately expressthe gp120 and the gp40 subjected to the modification described above.For example, it may be advantageous to use jointly the vaccinatingagents derived from the vectors 1136 and 1138 which will be describedbelow.

Finally, the present invention also relates to the antibodies producedagainst the above glycoproteins, the antibodies being obtained byinfection of a living organism with a viral vector as described aboveand recovery of the antibodies induced after a specified time.

The techniques employed for obtaining the glycoproteins, the cellcultures and the vaccination techniques are identical to those which arecurrently performed with known vaccines, and will not be described indetail.

The present invention will be more satisfactorily understood on readingthe methods and examples which follow.

Five figures illustrate the examples:

FIG. 1 shows the action of endo-F on the proteins synthesized by therecombinants VVTGeLAV9⁻¹ and VVTGeLAV1132 and immunoprecipitated bymeans of an anti-LAV serum. In this figure, the molecular weights aregiven in kilodaltons and the labeling is as follows:

P, the cell pellet

S, the supernatant

u, the products obtained without treatment

e, the products obtained after treatment with endo-F.

FIG. 2 shows the recognition of the proteins of the LAV virus by thesera of mice vaccinated with the recombinant VVTGeLAV9-1. In thisfigure, T denotes the cases where the serum used is that of a patientsuffering from AIDS. The molecular weights are expressed in kilodaltons.

FIG. 3 shows the immunoprecipitation of the proteins synthesized by therecombinant vaccinia viruses bearing the env gene. In this figure, themolecular weights are in kilodaltons.

FIG. 4 shows an immunoprecipitation of the proteins synthesized by therecombinant viruses VV.TG.eLAV 1135, 1136, 1137 and 1138. The virus 1135synthesizes a gp160 which does not appear in the culture supernatant. Asregards the viruses 1136 and 1138, they produce proteins gp120 and gp40,respectively, associated with the cell pellet. The virus 1137 produces aslightly smaller protein than the virus 1135, with an MW in keeping withthat expected.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the env proteins synthesized by therecombinant viruses described in the present invention.

S: a signal peptide

H: internal hydrophobic region

TM: transmembrane anchorage region

↑: gp120/gp40 cleavage site

: sequence originating from the rabies glycoprotein.

METHODS

Cloning: Maniatis et al., 1982.

Enzymes: used according to the supplier's instructions.

Localized mutagenesis: method derived from Zoller and Smith, 1983.

Transfer into vaccinia: Kieny et al., 1984.

Only difference: human 1438 cells replace the LMTK⁻ cells.

Preparation of the stock virus

"Germ free" chicken primary cells are infected at 0.01 pfu/cell for 4days at a temperature of 37° C. (MEM medium+5% NCS).

Purification of the virus

The above stock virus is centrifuged for 15 minutes at 2500 rpm (RotorGSA, Sorvall). The supernatant is set aside. The pellet is taken up inan RSB buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl ph 7.4, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl₂) for 15minutes at 4° C. The suspension is ground in a Potter and thencentrifuged for 15 minutes at 2500 rpm. The supernatant is added to theprevious supernatant and a second grinding is then performed in the samemanner.

All the supernatants are deposited on 10 ml of 36% (w/v) sucrose cushion(10 mM Tris pH 8). The suspension is centrifuged for 2 hours at 14,000rpm (Rotor SW28, Beckman).

The pellet is taken up, broken up and replaced on a second identicalcushion. The 2nd pellet is taken up in 5 ml of PBS and loaded onto a20-40% sucrose gradient (10 mM Tris pH 8) (same rotor). The suspensionis centrifuged for 45 minutes at 12,000 rpm.

The virus band is recovered. It is pelleted by centrifugation for 1 hourat 20,000 rpm. The pellet is taken up in 10 mM Tris pH 8.

Immunoprecipitations

BHK-21 cells are infected (dishes 3 cm in diameter, 10⁶ cells per dish,cultured in G-MEM+10% FCS) at 0.2 pfu/cell for 18 hours. The medium isdecanted and replaced by 1 ml of methionine-free medium and 10 μl of ³⁵S!methionine (Amersham) per dish.

An excess of non-radioactive methionine is added after 2 hours.

After the labeling, the infected cells are scraped off and centrifugedfor 1 minute in an Eppendorf centrifuge, the supernatant and pelletfractions are separated, the pellet is washed once in PBS buffer, andthen immunoprecipitation is carried out and gel electrophoresisperformed (according to Lathe et al., 1980).

Endo-F treatment

After immunoprecipitation of the labeled proteins with a serum of apatient suffering from AIDS, the protein A-sepharose fraction is takenup in:

0.2M Na phosphate, pH 6.1

0.05% SDS

0.1% Nonidet P40

0.1% Beta-mercaptoethanol

0.1% EDTA pH 8

and boiled for 5 minutes to denature the proteins.

Incubation is performed for 20 hours at 37° C. with 4 units of endo-Fper ml, followed by precipitation for 2 minutes in ice with 1/5 volumeof 100% TCA. The pellet is washed 3 times with 80% acetone, the samplebuffer is added and the mixture is loaded onto an SDS gel.

Antibody assay by ELISA test

LAV

Use of the ELAVIA test (Pasteur-Diagnostic) with a second sheepanti-mouse antibody linked to peroxidase.

Vaccinia

Plates having 96 flat-bottomed holes (NUNC) are incubated for 18 hoursat 37° C. with 10⁷ pfu of wild-type vaccinia virus in carbonate buffer.The plates are then saturated with 0.01% gelatin. The mouse sera arethen adsorbed onto the plates and the remainder of the procedure isperformed as for the LAV ELISA.

Readings taken at 492 nm.

EXAMPLE 1 Construction of the Hybrid Plasmids

The combined sizes of the different elements required for the transferof the sequence coding for (sic) the env gene into the VV genome, andits subsequent expression are of the order of several kb. It was henceconsidered necessary to reduce to the minimum the size of the plasmidfor replication in E. coli used for the construction work so as tofacilitate the necessary manipulations.

The HindIII fragment (Hin-J) of the VV genome contains the complete genefor thymidine kinase (TK) which has already been used previously topermit the exchange and recombination of DNA inserted in the VV genome(Mackett et al., 1982). It is important to note that the transfer of aninsert into the TK gene of the VV genome creates a TK-deficient viruswhich can be selected. It was first necessary to produce a small-sizedplasmid carrying a single HindIII site which could be used for theintegration of the VV Hin-J fragment. In addition, it was necessary toremove the unnecessary restriction sequences from the plasmid so as topermit the following manipulations.

The construction was primed starting with plasmid pML2 (Lusky andBotchan, 1981), which is a vector derived from plasmid pBR322 byspontaneous deletion in which the segment between nucleotides 1089 and2491 has been lost. First, the PstI sequence was removed by insertion ofthe AhaIII-AhaIII fragment of pUC8 (Vieira and Messing, 1982) betweenthe two AhaIII sites of pML2, removing 19 base pairs. The "Linkertailing" method (Lathe et al., 1984) was used to insert a HindIII Linkerbetween the NruI site and the EcoRI site, the latter being treated withS1, of this plasmid, the BamHI site being removed. This leads to aplasmid of 2049 base pairs carrying the functional beta-lactamase gene(which confers resistance to ampicillin) and containing in addition anorigin of replication which is active in E. coli and a single HindIIIrestriction site.

This construction was referred to as pTG1H.

The Hin-J fragment of VV DNA carrying the TK gene has previously beencloned into a vector originating from pBR327 (Drillien and Spehner,1983). This 4.6-kb fragment was recloned into the HindIII site of pTG1H.A clone was selected in which the TK gene is situated distally withrespect to the gene coding for the resistance to ampicillin.

This construction PTG1H-TK was used as a vector in the followingexperiment.

The following stage was to isolate a VV promoter which could be used tocontrol the expression of the sequence coding for the gene to beexpressed. The promoter of an early gene coding for a protein of 7500daltons (7.5 K) has already been successfully used for an identicalpurpose (Smith et al., 1983) and the isolation of this segment was henceundertaken.

The 7.5 K gene is situated on one of the smallest SalI fragments (Sal-Sfragment) of the VV type WR genome (Venkatasan et al., 1981). Since thesmall fragments are cloned preferentially, a large proportion of theclones obtained by direct cloning of the DNA of VV type WR cut with SalIin plasmid pBR322 carries the Sal-S fragment. This fragment istransferred to the vector bacteriophage M13mp701 (see Kieny et al.,1983) by SalI digestion and religation, thereby leading to the phageM13TGSal-S.

In this clone, an ScaI site is present in immediate proximity to theinitiation ATG of the 7.5 K gene. Downstream from the 7.5 K gene, thereare situated single BamHI and EcoRI sites originating from the vector.The BamHI and ScaI sites are fused by a BglII linker 5'-CAGATCrG-3'after the ends generated by BamHI digestion have been filled in with theKlenow fragment of E. coli. This process removes the ScaI site butre-forms the BamHI site and shifts the single EcoRI site downstream. Atthe same time, the SalI (AccI) site downstream is removed, the SalI siteupstream hence becomes unique.

This construction is referred to as M13TG 7.5 K.

Within the Hind-J (sic) fragment of VV DNA there are situated ClaI andEcoRI sites which are separated by approximately 30 base pairs (Weir andMoss, 1983). The 7.5 K promoter fragment present in M13TG7.5K is excisedwith AccI and EcoRI and cloned between the ClaI and EcoRI sites ofPTG1H-TK to generate pTG1H-TK-P7.5K.

This construction leads to the transfer of the single BamHI and EcoRIsites from the M13 vector immediately downstream from the 7.5 K promotersequence. These single BamHI and EcoRI sites are used in the followingconstruction.

The polylinker segment of bacteriophage M13TG131 (Kieny et al., 1983) isexcised with EcoRI and BglII and inserted between the EcoRI and BamHIsites of plasmid pTG1-TK-P7.5K, generating pTG186-POLY. In thisconstruction, 10 restriction sites are available for cloning a foreigngene under the control of P7.5K.

EXAMPLE 2 Construction of the Plasmid Carrying the env Sequence

In order to obtain a sequence coding for env, the two proviral segmentscloned into plasmids PJ19-6 and PJ19-13 are first assembled.

In order to provide for satisfactory translation of the env mRNA, thesequence of nucleotides around the presumed translation initiation siteof the env gene was modified to match the consensus sequence ofeukaryotic genes, this being achieved by a directed mutagenesis with anoligonucleotide in proximity to position 5767.

Plasmids PJ19-13 and PJ 19-6 contain HindIII fragments of the proviralgenome of LAV, comprising nucleotides 1258 to 1698 and 1698 to 9173,respectively.

An EcoRI-KPnI fragment of PJ19-13 (containing the env initiation ATG)was inserted in phage M13TG130 and directed mutagenesis was performedwith an oligonucleotide (sequence 5'CTCTCATTGTCACTGCAGTCTGCTCTTTC), tointroduce a PstI site upstream from the env translation initiation codon(position 5767) and in order to substitute the G at the 3-position by anA. The mutated fragment was then introduced between the EcoRI and KpnIsites of plasmid pTG1-POLY (which is a 2.1-kb mini-plasmid similar topTG1H but which contains a polylinker segment of M13TG131).

The KpnI-HindIII fragment originating from PJ 19-13 was then cloned intothe same plasmid (between KpnI and HindIII, followed by a HindIII-XhoIfragment of PJ 19-6 (between HindIII and SalI), to generate a completeenv coding sequence flanked by two PstI sites (plasmid pTG1 124).

The introduction of these two PstI restriction sites permits easiermanipulation of the DNA of the env gene in the subsequent stages of theconstruction. As stated above, the expression of a heterologous proteinin vaccinia virus requires that the coding sequence be aligned with apromoter sequence of vaccinia and be inserted in a nonessential segmentof the vaccinia DNA. This DNA situated on each side permitsrecombination with the vaccinia genome in vivo by a double reciprocalrecombination, which transfers the coding sequence and the accompanyingpromoter into the vaccinia genome.

To this end, the PstI-PstI fragment mentioned above was cloned in thePstI site of pTG186-POLY. A plasmid designated pTG1125 is therebyobtained.

Plasmid pTG186-POLY can be generated from plasmid pTG188 digested withPstI and religated with T4 ligase.

Plasmid pTG188 was deposited on 20th Jun. 1985 at the CollectionNationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (National Collection ofMicroorganism Cultures) of the Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du DocteurRoux, 75015 PARIS under the following number:

E. coli 5KpTG 188=No. I 458.

The transfer of the coding sequence of the env gene and the accompanyingpromoter into the vaccinia genome is accomplished as follows.

EXAMPLE 3 Cloning into Vaccinia Virus to Generate VV.TG.e LAV 9-1

The strategy described by Smith et al. (1983) rests an the exchange invivo between a plasmid carrying an insert in the VV TK gene and thewild-type viral genome so as to inactivate the TK gene carried by thevirus. The TK⁻ viruses can be selected by plating on a cell line(TK-negative) in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (5BUDR) (Mackett etal., 1982). Thymidine kinase phosphorylates 5BUDR to 5'-monophosphate,which is then converted to triphosphate. This compound is an analog ofdTTP and its incorporation in DNA blocks the correct development of thevirus. A TK⁻ virus can nevertheless replicate its DNA normally and itleads to visible viral plaques in a cell line which is also TK⁻.

Vaccinia virus is propagated in the cytoplasm of infected cells ratherthan in their nucleus. For this reason, it is not possible to turn toaccount the machinery for replication and transcription of the host DNA,and it is necessary that the virion should possess the components forthe expression of its genome. Purified VV DNA is noninfectious.

In order to generate the recombinants, it is necessary to performsimultaneously cellular infection with the VV virion and a transfectionwith the cloned DNA segment which is of interest. Nevertheless, thegeneration of the recombinants is limited to the small proportion ofcells which are competent for transfection with DNA. For this reason, itwas necessary to employ a strategy of indirect "congruence" to reducethe background of non-recombinant parent viruses. This was accomplishedusing as live infectious virus a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant ofvaccinia which is incapable of propagation at a nonpermissivetemperature of 39.5° C. (Drillien and Spehner, 1983). When cells areinfected with a ts mutant under nonpermissive conditions and transfectedwith the DNA of a wild-type virus, viral multiplication will occur onlyin the cells which are competent for the transfection and in which arecombination between the wild-type viral DNA and the genome of the tsvirus has taken place; no virus will multiply in the other cells,despite the fact that they have been infected. If a recombinant plasmidcontaining a DNA fragment of vaccinia, such as pTG1125, is included inthe transfection mixture, at the appropriate concentration, with thewild-type DNA, it is also possible to procure its participation inhomologous recombination with the DNA of the vaccinia in the competentcells.

Primary cell monolayers of chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) are infectedat 33° C. with VV-Copenhagen ts7 (0.1 pfu/cell) and transfected with acalcium phosphate coprecipitate of the DNA of wild-type VV-Copenhagenvirus (50 ng/10⁶ cells) and the recombinant plasmid (50 ng/10⁶ cells).

After incubation for 2 hours at a temperature which does not permit thegrowth of the ts virus (39.5° C.), the cells are incubated again for 48hours at 39.5° C. Dilutions of ts virus are used for reinfecting amonolayer of human 143B cells at 37° C., which are then incubated in thepresence of 5BUDR (150 μg/ml). Various plaques of TK⁻ virus are obtainedfrom these cells which have received the recombinant plasmid, while thecontrol cultures without a plasmid do not show visible plaques. The TK⁻viruses are then subcloned by a second selection in the presence of5BUDR.

A correct double reciprocal recombination between the hybrid plasmidpTG1125 and the VV genome leads to the exchange of the TK gene carryingthe insert with the TK gene of the virus, the recombinants therebybecoming TK⁻.

The DNAs purified from the different TK⁻ recombinant viruses aredigested with HindIII and subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. TheDNA fragments are transferred to a nitrocellulose filter according tothe technique described by Southern (1975). The filter is thenhybridized with plasmid pTG1125 which has been nick-translated with ³²P. After the filter is washed, the latter is fluorographed and 3.85-,2.9- and 0.8-kb bands are visible on the autoradiograph when thevaccinia virus has incorporated the env gene of LAV. One of theserecombinants, VV.TG. eLAV 9-1 was selected for the following studies.

EXAMPLE 4 Env Protein Synthesized From a Recombinant vacciniaLAV Virus

To demonstrate the expression of the env gene of LAV from the hybridvaccinia virus, rodent cells, BHK21, which are cultured in a G-MEMmedium+10% of fetal calf serum are infected with the same recombinantVV.TG. eLAV 9-1.

A fresh semi-confluent monolayer (10⁶ cells is infected with 0.2pfu/cell and incubated for 18 hours.

The medium is then removed and a medium having a low concentration ofmethionine (1 ml for 10⁶ cells), supplemented with 10 μl/ml of ³⁵S!methionine, is added. The cells are incubated at 37° C. and thelabeled proteins are collected by centrifugation. After separation intopellet and supernatant, the proteins are incubated with a serumbelonging to a patient suffering from AIDS. The proteins which reactwith the serum are recovered by adsorption on a protein A-Sepharoseresin, and spread by electrophoresis on an SDS polyacrylamide gel andautoradiographed according to a technique described by Lathe et al.,1980. The autoradiographs show that the serum of the patient sufferingfrom AIDS specifically binds three proteins in the infected cellextracts (the result is identical or similar to that obtained with othersera of patients). The apparent molecular weights of 160, 120 and 41 kDsuggest equivalence with the gp160, gp120 and gp 41 bands identified bymeans of sera of patients suffering from AIDS in an authentic envglycoprotein preparation and in extracts of cells infected with the LAVvirus. This observation, that three proteins are expressed from therecombinant vector which carries only the sequence coding for (sic) theenv gene of LAV, supports the hypothesis that the gp120 and gp41 aregenerated by proteolytic cleavage of the primary translation product,gp160.

The sequence coding for env leads to a primary translation product ofapproximately 90 kD, whereas the env precursor obtained by the abovemethod possesses an apparent molecular weight of approximately 160 kD.This difference is attributed to the presence of a very considerableamount of glycosylation. By digestion with endoglycosidase F, whichremoves the glycosyl groups, a good correlation could be demonstratedbetween the products obtained by the present invention and the predictedproducts (FIG. 1).

EXAMPLE 5 Demonstration of Anti-env Antibodies in Mice Vaccinated withthe VV.TG.e LAV 9-1 Virus

5-week-old male Balb/c mice are vaccinated by subcutaneous injection of5×10⁷ pfu of VV.TV.e LAV 9-1 virus per animal. They receive a boosterinjection with the same dose after 2 weeks, and blood samples arewithdrawn 1, 2 and 4 weeks after the booster. The presence of antibodiesdirected against-determinants of LAV virus and of vaccinia virus intheir sera is sought.

All the vaccinated animals give sera capable of reacting with vacciniavirus in an ELISA test. In contrast, the response in the ELISA testagainst LAV virus is weak and of low reproducibility. To improve thesensitivity of the tests, a "Western blot" technique was used. Thismethod enables antibodies capable of reacting with the proteins of LAVvirus to be demonstrated after these proteins have been denatured withSDS in an electrophoresis gel and transferred to a nitrocellulosemembrane. In this experiment, the nitrocellulose membranes employed arethose of the LAV-BLOT kit sold by Diagnostic-Pasteur and to which theproteins of LAV virus are already bound. These membranes are cut intostrips and each strip is incubated with the serum of the vaccinated mice(1/20 dilution). A second antibody (sheep anti-mouse) linked toperoxydase enables the proteins of the LAV virus which have bound mouseantibodies to be visualized.

Several sera (12/27) give a specific reaction with a protein ofmolecular weight about 160 kD, corresponding to the gp160 of env (FIG.2). In a certain number of sera, a reaction is also observed with thegp41 protein. It should be noted that the sera of a few mice producesignals in Western blot corresponding to unidentified proteins of theLAV virus preparation bound to the membranes.

EXAMPLE 6 Construction of pTG1128

This plasmid PTG1128 is identical to plasmid 1125 with the exceptionthat the sequence coding for the transmembrane region has been mutatedto replace the arginine by an isoleucine, this being in order to improvethe attachment of the protein in the cell membrane.

The HindIII-BamHI fragment of pTG1124 containing the transmembraneregion of env described in Example 2 is inserted into phage M13 TG131after a HindIII-BamHI digestion. A phage M13 TG154 is thereby obtained.

A localized mutagenesis designed to replace the codon coding forarginine by a codon coding for isoleucine is then performed on thisphage M13 TG154. For this purpose, the following oligonucleotide isused:

5'GGTTTAATAATAGTTTT 3'

Phage M13 TG155 is thereby obtained, the sequences having been modifiedas follows: ##STR2##

The BamHI-HindIII fragment thereby mutated is transferred from M13 TG155into plasmid pTG1124 in equivalent sites, to give plasmid pTG1127 whichre-forms the env gene as above except that the arginine codon has beenreplaced by an isoleucine codon.

As described in Example 1, the PstI-PstI fragment of pTG1127 is clonedinto the PstI site of plasmid pTG186-POLY to give plasmid pTG1128.

EXAMPLE 7 Construction of plasmid pTG1130

In this plasmid, the sequence coding for the transmembrane region of therabies glycoprotein is fused with the beginning of the sequence codingfor the hydrophobic portion of the env glycoprotein.

The transmembrane region of the rabies glycoprotein originates from aBamHI-PstI fragment of phage M13 TGRG151.

This fragment is cloned in phage M13 TG154 between the BamHI and PstIsites (see above example). The phage M13 TG156 is thereby obtained.

A localized mutagenesis is then performed on M13 TG156 in order to fusein phase the env and rabies sequences with an oligonucleotide by forminga 5'GCTGTGGTATATAAAATATGTATTACTGAGTG 3' loop ##STR3##

The phage M13 TG157 is thereby obtained.

The transmembrane (tm) region of the rabies glycoprotein which has justbeen fused with the env gene is then transferred into plasmid pTG1124.

For this purpose, the HindIII-BglII fragment of M13 TG157 is cloned intopTG1124 on which a HindIII-BamHI restriction has been performed (thisdestroys the BamHI and BglII sites).

The BGlII site of M13 TG157 originates from the rabies gp fragment:##STR4##

Plasmid pTG1126 is thereby obtained.

As above, PstI-PstI fragment of pTG1126 is cloned into the PstI site ofpTG 186-POLY to give plasmid pTG1130.

EXAMPLE 8 Construction of pTG1131

The objective of the construction of this plasmid is to fuse the signalsequence of the env gene and the signal sequence of the rabiesglycoprotein.

The signal sequence of the rabies glycoprotein is removed from plasmidpTG155 PRO in the form of a BGlII-HindIII fragment, which is cloned intothe PstI-HindIII sites of M13 TG130 by means of a single-strandedadaptor having the following sequence:

5'GATCTGCA 3'

The phage M13 TG158 is thereby obtained.

The transfer of the env signal peptide into M13 TG158 is then carriedout in order to fuse the latter with the gene coding for the signalpeptide of the rabies glycoprotein.

For this purpose, the PstI fragment treated with S1 nuclease and thenwith Klenow and KpnI is cloned into M13 TG158 cut with HindIII andtreated with Klenow/KpnI: ##STR5##

The plasmid (sic) M13 TG159 is thereby obtained.

The KpnI-PstI block of M13 TG159 is transferred into M13 TG131 to obtainplasmid (sic) M13 TG160. ##STR6##

A localized mutagenesis on M13 TG160 enables the env and rabiesglycoprotein sequences to be fused in phase (by forming a loop). This isachieved by means of the oligonucleotide ##STR7##

Phage M13 TG161 is thereby obtained.

The PvuII-KpnI fragment of M13 TG161 is then cloned into pTG1126 cutwith EcoRI and treated with Klenow/KpnI (the PvuII site of M13 TG161originates from M13 in the region situated upstream from thepolylinker). This leads to plasmid pTG1129.

By cloning the PstI-PstI fragment of pTG1129 into plasmid pTG186-POLYcut with PstI, plasmid pTG1131 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of Plasmid PTG1132

By cloning the PstI-PstI fragment of pTG1128 into the PstI site of M13TG131, plasmid M13 TG162 is obtained.

A localized mutagenesis is then performed by means of theoligonucleotide

5'ATTCCCACTGCTTAGTATTCATTCTGCACCACTC 3'

This enables a stop codon to be placed at the end of the gp120. Thesequences obtained are as follows: ##STR8##

The phage M13 TG168 is thereby obtained.

By recloning the PstI fragment of M13 TG168 into the PstI site ofpTG186-POLY, plasmid pTG1132 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 10 Construction of Plasmid pTG1133

By localized mutagenesis on M13 TG162 by means of the followingoligonucleotide:

5'ATTCCCACTGCTTGGTGTTCATTCTGCACCACTC 3'

a bacteriophage is obtained in which a potential cleavage siteseparating gp 120 and gp 40 has been destroyed.

The modified sequences are as follows: ##STR9##

The phage M13 TG165 is thereby obtained.

By recloning the PstI-PstI fragment of M13 TG165 into pTG186-POLY at thePstI site, plasmid pTG1133 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 11 Construction of Plasmid pTG1134

By cloning the PstI-PstI fragment of pTG1131 into the PstI site of M13TG131, the phage M13 TG163 is obtained.

A localized mutagenesis is performed on M13 TG163 in order to destroythe same cleavage site of the gp120 as above. For this purpose, thefollowing oligonucleotide is used:

5'ATTCCCACTGCTTGATGTTCATTCTGCACCACTC 3'

This enables the sequences to be modified in the following manner:##STR10##

Under these conditions, the phage M13 TG166 is obtained.

By recloning the PstI-PstI fragment of this phage M13 TG166 into thePstI site of pTG186-POLY, plasmid pTG-1134 is obtained.

EXAMPLE 12 Immunoprecipitation of the Proteins Synthesized by the VV.TG.eLAV Recombinant Viruses

By working as described above for plasmid pTG1125, the hybrid vacciniavectors corresponding to the different plasmids prepared above areobtained.

These viral vectors will be referred to, respectively, as

VV.TG. eLAV 1128

VV.TG. eLAV 1130

VV.TG. eLAV 1131

VV.TG. eLAV 1132

VV.TG. eLAV 1133

VV.TG. eLAV 1134

The proteins obtained as described above are tested byimmunoprecipitation (FIG. 3).

For the virus 9-1, the group of immunoprecipitates reveals animmunoprecipitation corresponding to the gp160, the gp120 and the gp41.

The same applies for the virus 1128.

The virus 1130 also shows a gp160 and a gp120.

The protein corresponding to the gp41 has a slightly lower weight, dueto the modification of its C-terminal end.

The virus 1131 shows a spectrum which is substantially identical to thatobtained for the virus 1130.

The virus 1132 naturally does not show the protein corresponding to thegp41. The 105-kD protein present in the pellets is an isoform of thegp120 (different glycosylation).

As regards the virus 1133, this clearly shows the proteins 160, 120 and41, but the bands corresponding to the proteins 120 and 41 are weakerthan in the other spectra.

The same applies for the virus 1134, with which the gp41 also shows aLower molecular weight but for which it is clear that the cleavage tookplace with slower kinetics than those of the viruses VV.TG.1125 (9-1) to1131.

EXAMPLE 13 Construction of Plasmid pTG1135

The kinetics of release performed on the VV.TG. eLAV1133 and 1134viruses show that, although the kinetics of cutting between the gp120and the gp40 are slower, the cleavage still takes place. The examinationof the DNA sequence of the env gene reveals another potential cleavagesite (KRR) 8 amino acids downstream from the first cleavage site. It mayhence be important to mutate this second site so as to obtain arecombinant vaccinia virus which expresses only the gp160.

By localized mutagenesis on M13TG166 by means of the followingnucleotide:

5'ATTCTGCACCACGTGATTCTGTGCCTTGGTGGGT 3'

a phage is obtained in which the second cleavage site is modified. Themodified sequences are as follows: ##STR11##

The PstI-PstI fragment of the phage obtained (M13TG181) is cloned intopTG186-POLY at the PstI site to generate plasmid pTG1135.

EXAMPLE 14 Construction of plasmid pTG1139

The C-terminal portion of the env gene synthesized by the recombinantvaccinia vector VV.TG.eLAV1135 is a sequence derived from the rabiesglycoprotein. It may hence appear to be useful also to have anotherrecombinant in which this C-terminal portion was replaced by theC-terminal portion of the env gene of the LAV virus.

For this purpose, the same mutagenesis is performed on the phageM13TG165 as that performed (see Example 13) on the phage M13TG166, togenerate the phage M13TG184.

The PstI-PstI fragment of M13TG184 is then recloned into plasmidpTG186-POLY to generate plasmid pTG-1139.

EXAMPLE 15 Construction of Plasmid pTG1136

It would also be desirable to have a recombinant vaccinia virus whichexpressed only the gp120. This gp-120 will, in distinction to the caseobtained with the VV.TG.eLAV1132 virus, be equipped with a C-terminalanchorage region.

For this purpose, the sequences corresponding to the gp40 in the phageM13TG181 are removed by localized mutagenesis using the followingnucleotide:

5'TGCACTCAGTAATACATACACGTGATTCTGTGCCTT 3'

This oligonucleotide enables the gp120 sequences (with the 2 modifiedcleavage sites) and the sequences of the transmembrane region of therabies glycoprotein to be fused in phase. ##STR12## Phage M13TG182 isthereby obtained. PstI-PstI fragment of M13TG182 is then inserted at thePstI site of pTG186-POLY to generate plasmid pTG1136.

EXAMPLE 16 Construction of Plasmid pTG1137

The role of the hydrophobic region situated at the N-terminal portion ofthe gp40 is little known. This region of the env protein may beresponsible for the power for inducing formation of syncitia.

It hence appears to be advantageous to produce a gp160 which does notcontain this sequence.

For this purpose, the sequences upstream and downstream from the portioncoding for this hydrophobic peptide in the phage M13TG181 are fused inphase by means of the following oligonucleotide:

5'CAATAATTGTCTGGCCTGCACGTGATTCTGTGCCTT 3'

This enables the phage M13TG183 to be obtained by carrying out thefusion: ##STR13##

The PstI-PstI fragment of M13TG183 is recloned into the PstI site ofpTG186-POLY to generate plasmid pTG1137.

EXAMPLE 17 Construction of Plasmid pTG1138

In addition to recombinant viruses which express the gp160 or the gp120,it may be useful to generate a recombinant vaccinia virus whichexpresses the gp40 alone.

For this purpose, the sequences coding for the signal peptide are fusedwith the sequences coding for the gp40 on the phage M13TG163, by meansof the following nucleotide:

5'CAATAATTGTCTGGCCTGAATAGGGAATTTCCCAAA 3'

This enables the phage M13TG180 to be generated, which contains thefusion: ##STR14##

The PstI-PstI fragment of M13TG180 is inserted at the PstI site ofpTG186-POLY to give plasmid pTG1138.

EXAMPLE 18 Construction of Plasmid pTG1162

As in the case of the gp160 (plasmid pTG1139), it may also be importantto have a recombinant virus which expresses a gp40 in which theanchorage region and the intracytoplasmic region are the sequences ofthe env gene of the LAV virus, rather than the corresponding sequencesof the rabies glycoprotein.

To obtain this, the HindIII-BglI fragment of M13-TG180 is replaced bythe HindIII- BglI fragment of M13TG-165, generating phage M13TG190.

Plasmid pTG1162 is obtained by cloning the PstI-PstI fragment of thephage M13TG190 into the PstI site of plasmid pTG186-POLY.

EXAMPLE 19 Construction of Plasmid pTG1163.

It also appears to be important to obtain a recombinant vaccinia viruswhich synthesizes a gp160 which is not cleaved and which is secretedinto the medium. In effect, this protein might be used as a killedvaccine, in combination with adjuvants, or included in liposomes orISCOMS Morein et al., Nature (1984) 308, 5958 p.457-60!.

For this purpose, the bacteriophage M13TG194, in which the sequencescoding for the extracytoplasmic and intracytoplasmic regions are fusedin phase in the bacteriophage M13 TG184, is constructed by means of thefollowing oligonucleotide:

5'TCCCTGCCTAACTCTATTTTTTATATACCACAGCCA 3'

The PstI-PstI fragment of M13TG194 is then cloned at the PstI site ofpTG186-POLY to give pTG1163.

The recombinant proteins thereby obtained, and especially thenon-cleavable gp160, can be used in diagnostic kits for detectingpotential antibodies present in the blood of patients who have been incontact with the virus. These tests can be carried out according toprocesses known to those versed in the art, for example by ELISA, RIPAor "Western blot" (immuno-imprinting).

These proteins can also be used for the production of hybridomas andmonoclonal antibodies designed to detect the presence of virus insamples.

The different plasmids and M13 phages are described, in particular, inthe following patent applications:

M13 TG131: Kieny et al., 1983

M13 TGRG151: WO 83/04052

PTG155 PRO: FR 84 06499

M13 TG130: Kieny et al., 1983.

The following plasmids were deposited on 16th Nov. 1984 at theCollection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes National Collectionof Microorganism Cultures! of the Institut Pasteur and are described in

Patent GB-A-84/29,099:

PJ 19-6: CNCM No. 366-I

PJ 19-13: CNCM No. 367-I

Plasmid pTG1125 was deposited on ₆ th Jun. 1986 in the same collection,in the form of a transformed bacterium E. coli 1106/pTG1125, under no.I-557.

REFERENCES

1. Drillien, R. and Spehner, D. (1983) Virology 131, 385-393.

2. Kieny, M. P., Lathe, R. and Lecocq, J. P. 1983. New versatile cloningand sequencing vectors based on bacteriophage M13. Gene 26:91-99.

3. Kieny, M. P., Lathe, R., Drillien, R., Spehner, D., Skory, S.,Schmitt, D., Wiktor, T., Koprowski, H. and Lecocq, J. P. 1984.Expression of rabies virus glycoprotein from a recombinant vacciniavirus. Nature 312:163-166.

4. Lathe, R., Hirth, P., Dewilde, M., Harford, N. and Lecocq, J. P.1980. Cell-free synthesis of biologically active heat-stable enterotoxinof Escherichia coli from a cloned gene. Nature 284:473-474.

5. Lathe, R., Kieny, M. P., Schmitt, D., Curtis, P. and Lecocq, J. P.(1984) J. Mol. Appl. Genet., vol. 2, 331-342.

6. Lathe, R., Kieny, M. P., Skory, S. and Lecocq, J. P. (1984) DNA, vol.3, 173-182.

7. Lusky, M. and Botchan, M. (1981) Nature 293, 79-81.

8. Mackett, M., Smith, G. L. and Moss, B. 1982. Vaccinia virus: aselectable eukaryotic cloning and expression vector. Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA. 79:7415-7419.

9. Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E. F. and Sambrook, J. 1982. Molecularcloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Lab, N.Y.

10. Muesing, M. A., Smith, D. H., Cabradilla, C. D., Benton, C. V.,Lasky, L. A. and Capon, D. J. 1985. Nucleic acid structure andexpression of the human AIDS/lymphadenopathy retrovirus. Nature313:450-458.

11. Messing and Vieras, Gene 19, 1982, p. 269-276.

12. Panicali, D. and Paoletti, E. 1982. Construction of poxviruses ascloning vectors: Insertion of the thymidine kinase gene from herpessimplex virus into the DNA of infectious vaccinia virus. Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA. 79:4927-4931.

13. Panicali, D., Davis, S. W., Weinberg, R. L. and Paoletti, E. (1983)Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 5364-5368.

14. Ratner, L., Haseltine, W., Patarca, R., Livak, K. J., Starcich, B.,Josephs, S. F., Doran, E. R., Rafalski, J. A., Whitehorn, E. A.,Baumeister, K., Ivanoff, L., Petterway Jr., S. R., Pearson, M. L.,Lautenberger, J. A., Papas, T. S., Ghrayeb, J., Chang, N. T., Gallo, R.C. and Wong-Staal, F. Complete nucleotide sequence of the AIDS virus,HTLV-III. 1985. Nature 313:277-284.

15. Sanchez-Pescador et al., 1985. Science 227:484-492.

16. Smith, G. L., Mackett, M. and Moss, V. (1983) Nature 302, 490-495.

17. Smith, G. L., Murphy, B. R. and Moss, B. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 80, 7155-7159.

18. Venkatesan, S., Baroudy, B. M. and Moss, B. (1981) Cell 125,805-813.

19. Wain-Hobson, S., Sonigo, P., Danos, O., Cole, S. and Alizon, M.Nucteotide Sequence of the AIDS virus, LAV. 1985. Cell 40:9-17.

20. Weir, J. P. and Moss, B. (1983) J. Virol. 46, 530-537.

21. Zoller, M. J. and Smith, M. 1983. Oligonucleotide-directedmutagenesis of DNA fragments cloned into M13 vectors. In: Methods inEnzymology (Wu, Grossman, Moldave, eds.) 100:468-500.

What is claimed is:
 1. An immunogenic composition comprising a viralvector, the genome of which comprises:a functional origin of replicationof a poxvirus; a first DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160,consisting of gp120-gp40 of an HIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavablegp160 does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR found in naturalgp160; a second DNA fragment encoding a signal peptide, said second DNAfragment being linked to the 5'end of said first DNA fragment; and apromoter for expressing said DNA fragments in mammalian cells.
 2. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 1, wherein said genome of said viralvector comprises a first DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160 ofthe HIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 does not contain theamino acid sequences KRR and REKR found in natural gp160.
 3. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 1, wherein said genome of said viralvector comprises a first DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160 ofthe HIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-aminoacid sequence other than REKR in place of the amino acid sequence REKRfound in natural gp160.
 4. The immunogenic composition of claim 2,wherein said genome of said viral vector comprises a first DNA fragmentencoding a non-cleavable gp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR inplace of the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and inthat said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a 3-amino acid sequence otherthan KRR in place of the amino acid sequence KRR found in natural gp160.5. The immunogenic composition of claim 3, wherein said genome of saidviral vector comprises a DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160 ofHIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 is different from naturalgp160 in that the amino acid sequence REKR found in the natural gp160 isreplaced by the amino acid sequence NEHQ.
 6. The immunogenic compositionof claim 4, wherein said genome of said viral vector comprises a DNAfragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 is different from natural gp160 in that the aminoacid sequences KRR and REKR are replaced, respectively, by the aminoacid sequences QNH and NEHQ.
 7. The immunogenic composition of claim 1,wherein said genome of said viral vector comprises a first DNA fragmentencoding a non-cleavable and soluble gp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein saidnon-cleavable and soluble gp160 is different from natural gp160 in thatit does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160,and in that the transmembrane region found in natural gp160 is deleted.8. The immunogenic composition of claim 7, wherein said non-cleavableand soluble gp160 is different from natural gp160 in that it comprises a4-amino acid sequence other than REKR in place of the amino acidsequence REKR found in natural gp160.
 9. The immunogenic composition ofclaim 8, wherein said non-cleavable and soluble gp160 is different fromnatural gp160 in that the amino acid sequence REKR found in naturalgp160 is replaced by the amino acid sequence NEHQ.
 10. The immunogeniccomposition of claim 2, wherein said genome of said viral vectorcomprises a first DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable and solublegp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavable and soluble gp 160 isdifferent from natural gp 160 in that it does not contain the amino acidsequences KRR and REKR found in natural gp160, and in that thetransmembrane region found in natural gp160 is deleted.
 11. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 10, wherein said non-cleavable andsoluble gp160 is different from natural gp160 in that it comprises a4-amino acid sequence other than REKR in place of the amino acidsequence REKR found in natural gp160, and a 3-amino acid sequence otherthan KRR in place of the amino acid sequence KRR found in natural gp160.12. The immunogenic composition of claim 11, wherein said non-cleavableand soluble gp160 is different from natural gp160 in that the amino acidsequences KRR and REKR are replaced, respectively, by the amino acidsequences QNH and NEHQ.
 13. The immunogenic composition of claim 1,wherein said genome of said viral vector comprises a first DNA fragmentencoding a non-cleavable gp 160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR foundin natural gp160, and in that the transmembrane region found in naturalgp160 is replaced by the transmembrane region of the glycoprotein of therabies virus.
 14. The immunogenic composition of claim 13, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR inplace of the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp166.
 15. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 2, wherein said genome of said viralvector comprises a first DNA fragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160 ofHIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 does not contain the aminoacid sequences KRR and REKR found in natural gp160, and in that thetransmembrane region found in natural gp160 is replaced by thetransmembrane region of the glycoprotein of the rabies virus.
 16. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 15, wherein said non-cleavable gp160comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR in place of the aminoacid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and a 3-amino acid sequenceother than KRR in place of the amino acid sequence KRR found in naturalgp160.
 17. The immunogenic composition of claim 1, wherein said genomeof said viral vector comprises a first DNA fragment encoding anon-cleavable gp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein said non-cleavable gp160does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160,and in that the amino acid Arg of the transmembrane region found innatural gp160 is replaced by the amino acid Ile.
 18. The immunogeniccomposition of claim 17, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a4-amino acid sequence other than REKR in place of the amino acidsequence REKR found in natural gp160.
 19. The immunogenic composition ofclaim 2, wherein said genome of said viral vector comprises a first DNAfragment encoding a non-cleavable gp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequences KRR andREKR found in natural gp160, and in that the amino acid Arg of thetransmembrane region found in natural gp160 is replaced by the aminoacid Ile.
 20. The immunogenic composition of claim 19, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR inplace of the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and a3-amino acid sequence other than KRR in place of the amino acid sequenceKRR found in natural gp160.
 21. The immunogenic composition of claim 1,wherein said genome of said viral vector comprises a first DNA fragmentencoding a non-cleavable gp160 of HIV-1 virus, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR foundin natural gp160, and in that the hydrophobic region proximate theC-terminal end of the REKR sequence as found in natural gp160 isdeleted.
 22. The immunogenic composition of claim 2, wherein said genomeof said viral vector comprises a first DNA fragment encoding anon-cleavable gp160 of HIV-1 virus, said non-cleavable gp160 does notcontain the amino acid sequences REKR and KRR found in natural gp160,and in that the hydrophobic region proximate to the C-terminal end ofthe REKR sequence found in natural gp160 is deleted.
 23. The immunogeniccomposition of claim 1, wherein said genome of said viral vectorcomprises a second DNA fragment encoding a signal peptide selected fromthe group consisting of the signal peptide of the precursor of gp160 ofHIV-1 and the signal peptide of the precursor of the glycoprotein ofrabies virus.
 24. The immunogenic composition of claim 2, wherein saidgenome of said viral vector comprises a second DNA fragment encoding asignal peptide selected from the group consisting of the signal peptideof the precursor of gp160 of HIV-1 and the signal peptide of theprecursor of the glycoprotein of rabies virus.
 25. The immunogeniccomposition of claim 1, wherein said genome of said viral vectorcomprises a functional origin of replication of a vaccinia virus. 26.The immunogenic composition of claim 2, wherein said genome of saidviral vector comprises a functional origin of replication of a vacciniavirus.
 27. The immunogenic composition of claim 1, wherein the DNAencoding envelope protein of HIV-1 is comprised of EcoRI-KpnI andKpnI-HindIII fragments of plasmid PJ19-13, comprising nucleotides 1258to 1698 of the DNA encoding envelope protein of HIV-1, and theHindlII-XhoI fragment of the plasmid PJ19-6, comprising nucleotides 1698to 9173 of the DNA encoding envelope protein of HIV-1.
 28. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 2, wherein the DNA encoding envelopeprotein of HIV-1 is comprised of EcoRI-KpnI and KpnI-HindIII fragmentsof plasmid PJ19-13, comprising nucleotides 1258-1698 of the DNA encodingenvelope protein of HIV-1, and the HindIII-XhoI fragment of plasmidPJ19-6, comprising nucleotides 1698 to 9173 of the DNA encoding envelopeprotein of HIV-1.
 29. An immunogenic composition comprising anon-cleavable gp160 glycoprotein, consisting essentially of gp120-gp40of a human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1), wherein said gp160does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160,and a carrier.
 30. The immunogenic composition of claim 29, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequences KRR andREKR found in natural gp160.
 31. The immunogenic composition of claim29, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequenceother than REKR in place of the amino acid sequence REKR found innatural gp160.
 32. The immunogenic composition of claim 30, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR inplace of the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and inthat it comprises a 3-amino acid sequence other than KRR in place of theamino acid sequence KRR found in natural gp160.
 33. The immunogeniccomposition of claim 31, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 is differentfrom natural gp160 in that the amino acid sequence REKR found in thenatural gp160 is replaced by the amino acid sequence NEHQ.
 34. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 32, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 isdifferent from natural gp160 in that the amino acid sequences KRR andREKR are replaced, respectively, by the amino acid sequences QNH andNEHQ.
 35. The immunogenic composition of claim 29, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 is soluble and different from natural gp160 in thatit does not contain the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160,and in that the transmembrane region found in natural gp160 is deleted.36. The immunogenic composition of claim 35, wherein said non-cleavableand soluble gp160 is different from natural gp160 in that it comprises a4-amino acid sequence other than REKR in place of the amino acidsequence REKR found in natural gp
 160. 37. The immunogenic compositionof claim 36, wherein said non-cleavable and soluble gp160 is differentfrom natural gp 160 in that the amino acid sequence REKR found innatural gp160 is replaced by the amino acid sequence NEHQ.
 38. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 30, wherein said non-cleavable andsoluble gp160 is soluble and different from natural gp160 in that itdoes not contain the amino acid sequences KRR and REKR found in naturalgp160, and in that the transmembrane region found in natural gp160 isdeleted.
 39. The immunogenic composition of claim 38, wherein saidnon-cleavable and soluble gp160 is different from natural gp160 in thatit comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR in place of theamino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and a 3-amino acidsequence other than KRR in place of the amino acid sequence KRR found innatural gp160.
 40. The immunogenic composition of claim 39, wherein saidnon-cleavable and soluble gp160 is different from natural gp 160 in thatthe amino acid sequences KRR and REKR are replaced, respectively, by theamino acid sequences QNH and NEHQ.
 41. The immunogenic composition ofclaim 29, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 does not contain the aminoacid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and in that the transmembraneregion found in natural gp160 is replaced by the transmembrane region ofthe glycoprotein of the rabies virus.
 42. The immunogenic composition ofclaim 41, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acidsequence other than REKR in place of the amino acid sequence REKR foundin natural gp160.
 43. The immunogenic composition of claim 30, whereinsaid non-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequences KRRand REKR found in natural gp160, and in that the transmembrane regionfound in natural gp 160 is replaced by the transmembrane region of theglycoprotein of the rabies virus.
 44. The immunogenic composition ofclaim 43, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acidsequence other than REKR in place of the amino acid sequence REKR foundin natural gp160, and a 3-amino acid sequence other than KRR in place ofthe amino acid sequence KRR found in natural gp160.
 45. The immunogeniccomposition of claim 29, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 does notcontain the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and in thatthe amino acid Arg of the transmembrane region found in natural gp160 isreplaced by the amino acid Ile.
 46. The immunogenic composition of claim45, wherein said non-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequenceother than REKR in place of the amino acid sequence REKR found innatural gp160.
 47. The immunogenic composition of claim 30, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequences KRR andREKR found in natural gp 160, and in that the amino acid Arg of thetransmembrane region found in natural gp160 is replaced by the aminoacid Ile.
 48. The immunogenic composition of claim 47, wherein saidnon-cleavable gp160 comprises a 4-amino acid sequence other than REKR inplace of the amino acid sequence REKR found in natural gp160, and a3-amino acid sequence other than KRR in place of the amino acid sequenceKRR found in natural gp160.
 49. The immunogenic composition of claim 29,wherein said non-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acidsequence REKR found in natural gp160, and in that the hydrophobic regionproximate the C-terminal end of the REKR sequence as found in naturalgp160 is deleted.
 50. The immunogenic composition of claim 30, whereinsaid non-cleavable gp160 does not contain the amino acid sequences REKRand KRR found in natural gp160, and in that the hydrophobic regionproximate to the C-terminal end of the REKR sequence found in naturalgp160 is deleted.
 51. The immunogenic composition of claim 29, whereinsaid genome of said viral vector comprises a second DNA fragmentencoding a signal peptide selected from the group consisting of thesignal peptide of the precursor of gp160 of HIV-1 and the signal peptideof the precursor of the glycoprotein of rabies virus.
 52. Theimmunogenic composition of claim 30, wherein said genome of said viralvector comprises a second DNA fragment encoding a signal peptideselected from the group consisting of the signal peptide of theprecursor of gp160 of HIV-1 and the signal peptide of the precursor ofthe glycoprotein of rabies virus.
 53. A purified antibody directedagainst the immunogenic composition according to any one of claims 1-52.54. A method of producing an antibody comprising the steps of(a)immunizing a host animal with an immunogenic composition of any one ofclaims 1-52; and (b) isolating the antibodies from the sera of said hostanimal.
 55. A purified antibody produced by the method of claim 54.